Ladder attachment



April 12, 1949. A. BUELL LADDER ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27, 1946 Leslie AEIUEH.

A Ito rneys L. A. BUELL 2,466,838

LADDER ATTACHMENT April 12, 1949.

Filed Feb. 27', 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Alto rue-yr Patented Apr. 12, 1949 U NIIED BATE ET "ATTACHMENT Leslie Aiz'Buell, Holly,.Mich. fipplicationFebruary27, 1946, Serial No."65'0;512 4 'Glaims;. (Ch 228-65) much lighter-and easier to handle.-

Another object of invention isz'to providera ladder having extensions-at 1 the bottom thereof for increasing the width' of -thebaseof the ladder-and' thereby render amore-stable use;

"still another object or the invention is to provide' a -novel construction of a -retaining means for" an extension ladder whereby the ladder sections maybe retainedinextended position for ready release in telescopingthe-sections.

Qther object's and advantages 1 of the-invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent: from the following descriptionof the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, :and wherein:

Figure 1 is: a front elevational: View ofi a single section ladder 1 constructed "in: accordance with the invention;

Figure 2* is a similar: View showing. the invention embodied" an extension ladder;

Figure 3 is a. similarviewaof'the upper section of: the extension ladder;

Figure 4" is: an enlarged sectional view taken on .the line 1-4. of Figure Figure 5 is ansenlarged sectional:viewftakemon the; line -5--'5iof' Figure:

Figure 5a is a perspective: View rim-a slightly .modified form: of the ladder rung;

Figure-:6 is;a'- view partlyiin sectionzand partly in; elevation showingthea preferredxform of" at- *taehmenti ofntheirun'gsto the ladder sides-rail;

Figure Gmis a sectional view similar to Figure 4 showing 'another'means for attachingan endof the rung to a side rail;

a" part of thelbaseioftheladder;

Figure '9' is an. enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line {if-9 ofFigure Ziand showing the dog controlling mechanism in a position to permit. lowering of' the. extension .la'dfder;, 7 Figure" is avi'ewsimilar'to Figurei9 illustrating the position to the part-"ofth'e latching dog "when the extensionla'd'der'is being raised;

' Figure I1- is a similarviewshowing the" ladder sec tion latched? by the dog;

Figure 1-2'is a perspective view looking toward the outenspace ofthe latchingdog;

Figure 13 is a perspective viewof the-spring latch carried by'the upper ladder-section-and controlled by the latching dog; and

Figure 14 is a perspectiveview of another form of ladder rungs.

Referring more-particularly to the drawings; and particularly to-'-Figures 1',"4:""t0"6, "8 and 1'4 in=-Figure 1', I 5 designa-tesgenerally a single-section-ladder formed of alight weight metal such as magnesium alloy "and comprising space'd -si'd'e rails l6 connected'by a"plurality of" rungs i 7 As best illustratedinFigures 4 and-'5,- the side rails Iii and the rungs I Faro channel'- shaped in cross section. The siderail's I 6 open'inwardly'and-the rungs l preferablyopen' downwardly; A ss'een in Figure 6, the Weber intermediate portion it ofthe rungs II are elongated and bent downwardly and abut-against the inner spacesof the intermediate portion orweb"l"9- of the rails ['6 and-are connected' thereto by= fasteni'n'gs 20; If desired; the-extensionflb of the web- It may be bent upwardly; asillustrated 'in Figure 5a, and attached tothe inner sideof the webl9 above the level of the'run'g H Another :means of attaching therung to the siderail 'IB- i's shown in Figure 6a, wherein-a rung 22 of" channel shaped construction has its' depending flanges '23 elongated to form extensions which are bent outwardly and wh'iiih have termina-l 'portions engaging against the inner sides of "the flanges 24 of the rails 16' andsecured thereto by fastenings 25. 'InFigure 14 another form of rungs, designated ZB is illustrated. The rung'zfi comprises an elongated'metal plate orbar 21-liaving downturned ends 28'whioh'arezadapted'to be secured by fastenings, not shown, toth'e inner sides of the web E9 of the' side rails [6; Between" the downturned ends-18; the bar 21' is 'provide'd with a depending reinforoing'rib 291so that in' cross section it is substantially 'T-shaped;

The ladder li'a is providedwith a pair offeet 30, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 8. The feet 3%? each include-a portion 3i upon" which the lower end ofa rail lli'rests and an upstand ing'fiange 32 which engages against'the outer side of the web [9 of such rail which is connected thereto by'fastenin'gs 3 3. The feet 30 extendl'aterally outwardly and are' each provided with a downturned free end portion 34 which rests upon a suitable supporting'surface. It w'i1l"thus' be seen that the'feet 3llmaterially' increase the stathe base-thereof.

the latch 55 at 73.

are provided with hook portions 4! which engage over the side rail 42 of the ladder section 31 for slidably connecting said section in the usual manner. A flexible member such as a rope 43 is connected at one end thereof at 44 to the bottom rung 45 of the ladder section 31. The rope 43 extends upwardly between the rungs 46 of the section 36 and the rungs 45 of the section 31 and is trained over the pulley 41 is supported by the upper rung 46. The rope 43 then passes back between the rungs 45 and 46, as illustrated in Figure 2 and as is conventional in extension ladders.

Referring to Figure 7, a housing 48 which is channel shaped in cross section is disposed in each of the side rails 42 between the two bottom rungs 45 thereof and. with its base or web which portion 49 outermost. Inwardly extending flanges r of the housing 48 engaging against the inner sides of the flanges of the rails 42 and are connected thereto by fastenings 59. The web portions 49 are provided with openings 5| in which a rod 52 is journaled, as seen in Figures 9 to 11.

As best illustrated in Figure 13, a plate 53 is secured to the outer side of the Web 49 of one of the housings 48 by .fastenings 54. The plate 53 is provided with an opening 55 which is =a1ined with the openings 5| and through which the rod 52 extends and is journaled. A latching bar 56 is pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof at 51 on the plate 53 and is disposed between the free legs 58 of a pair of substantially V- shaped springs 59. The terminals of the other legs of the springs 59 are secured by fastenings 66 to the plate 53 and fastenings 6i secure said springs at their apexes to plate 53.

A latching or retaining dog 62 is mounted on the rod 52 and keyed thereto by a pin 63. The

dog 62 extends downwardly from the rod 52 and is disposed adjacent to the plate 53. The lower portion of "the edge of the dog 62, which is adjacent to the ladder section 36 is bowed outwardly as seen at 64. The bottom edge of the dog 62 is provided with a notch which is located adjacent the edge '64 and which is shaped to fit over the ladder rung-s 46. The preponderance of the weight of the dog 62 is in the portion 66 thereof which is adjacent the edge opposite to the edge 64 so as to cause the dog 62 to normally assume the position as shown in Fig- 1411's 11 with the notch 65 directly over the rungs Referring particularly to Figure 12, the sides 61 of the dog 62 which is located adjacent to the plate 53 has an actuating lever 68 pivot-ally mounted thereon intermediate of its ends at 69. Lever 68 is provided with a tapered end 16 which normally projects outwardly beyond the edge 64. One end of a connecting rod H is pivotally connected to the opposite, inwardly extending end 12 of the lever 68; said rod ll having its opposite end pivotally connected to the free end of A spring latch bar 14 is secured to the side 61 by fastenings 15, adjacent one end thereof. The opposite, free end of the bar 14 is provided with inclined surfaces 16 and TI to be engaged by the lever end 12 as will hereinafter be described. A lug or deten-t 16 is stuck out from the face 61 and is located to be engaged by the free end of the latch 56 when the dog 62 is retracted and the latch 56 is drawn downwardly as shown in Figure 9 and as will hereinafter be described. 9

Another idler dog 19 is fixed to the rod 52 adjacent the opposite end thereof. The dog 19 is of the same shape as the dog 62 but is not provided with any of the parts including the lever 68, latch bar 14 and lug I6.

In order to raise the ladder section 31 from its position of Figure 2 a pull is applied to the flexible member 43 at its free end whi h will cause the ladder section 31 to be hoisted. As the ladder section 3! begins its upward move ment the dogs 62 and 19 will each be disposed in engagement with the rung 4-6 as shown in Figure 11 and the lever 68 and the latch 56 will be disposed as shown in this figure. As the ladder section 31 is moved upwardly the edge 64 of the dog 62 will engage the next rung 46 thereabove and be swung counterclockwise thereby. This rung 46 will swing the lever 68 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 10, by engagement with the tapered end 10 thus forcing the latch-56 to swing counterclockwise against the action of the upper spring 59. When the lever end 10 has passed over this rung 46 the upper spring 59 will return the lever 56 to the position of Figure 11, thus returning the lever 63 to the normal position of Figures 11 and 12. It will thus be apparent that the ladder section 31 can be raised as high as desired and upon being released with the dogs '62 and 19 between two of the rungs 46 will be latched by the dogs engaging the rung 46 which is disposed therebeheath.

To telescope the ladder sections the ladder section 31 is initially pulled upwardly by the rope 43 to a point slightly above that shown in Figure 10 at which time the lever end 10 is disengaged from rung 46 so as to return to its normal position of Figure 12. The rope 43 is then slacked off to allow the ladder section 31 to slide downwardly past the rung 46 so that the lower end of the edge 64 is engaged. As the dog 62 moves downwardly past this rung 46, the lever 68 will be in its position of Figure 12 so that its end 16 will be engaged by this rung 46 and swung upwardly. This movement of the lever 68 will cause its end 12 to engage and depress th inclined surface 16 to allow the end 12 to be latched against the surface 11. This movement of the lever 68 will draw the latch member 56 downwardly to its dotted line position of Figure 9 and with its free end will engage the lug or detent 18 to thereby latch the dogs 62 and 19 in retracted position which will permit a full telescoping of the ladder sections.

If it is desired to only partially telescope the laddersections, when the section 31 has reached a point at which it is desired to latch it, by applying a pull on the free end of the rope 43, ladder section 31 can be moved upwardly sufllciently so that the rung 46 thereabove will en gage the lever end ID to swing in counterclockwise from its position of Figure 9 into its position of Figure 11. .In this movement of the lever 66 its end 12 will cam the free end of the latch .bar '14 inwardly by engagement with the inclined surface 11 to disengage the lever end 12 therefrom. When the lever '68 is thus released the latch member 56 will return to its position of Figure 11, out of engagement with lugs 78 to allow the dog G2 to swing back to its position of Figure 11 to engage the rung 46 therebenea'th.

Various modifications and changes are contemp ed an may obviously be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an extension ladder, two telescoping ladder sections, manually operated means for extending and telescoping said sections, a rod disposed transversely of and journaled in the upper, movable section, a pair of latching dogs keyed to said rod and having downwardly opening notches normally disposed for engagement with the rungs of the stationary ladder section for holding the movable section in an elevated, ex-

tended position, a pivotally mounted latch member carried by the movable section, a detent on one of said latching dogs engageable by the free end of said latch member for holding the dogs in a retracted, inoperative position, an actuat-- ing lever pivotally mounted on said last mentioned dog and disposed to be operated by oil-- gagement with the rungs of the stationary ladder section, and a connecting rod connecting the latching member and actuating lever for moving the actuating lever into and out of engagement with the lug or detent.

2. In an extension ladder, two telescoping ladder sections, manually operated means for eX- tending and telescoping said sections, a rod disposed transversely of and journaled in the upper, movable section, a pair of latching dogs keyed to said rod and having downwardly opening notches normally disposed for engagement with the rungs of the stationary ladder section for holding the movable section in an elevated, extended position, a pivotally mounted latch member carried by the movable section, a detent on one of said latching dogs engageable by the free end of said latch member for holding the dogs in a retracted, inoperative position, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said last mentioned dog and disposed to be operated by engagement with the rungs of the stationary ladder section, a connecting rod connecting the latching member and actuating lever for moving the actuating lever into and out of engagement with the lug or detent, and spring means between which the latching lever is disposed for normally holding the latching member in a position away from the path of movemet of said detent.

3. In an extension ladder, two telescoping ladder sections, manually operated means for extending and telescoping said sections, a rod disposed transversely of and journaled in the upper, movable section, a pair of latching dogs keyed to said rod and having downwardly opening notches normally disposed for engagement with the rungs of the stationary ladder section for holding the movable section in an elevated, extended position, a pivotally mounted latch member carried by the movable section, a detent on one of said latching dogs engageable by the free end of said latch member for holding the dogs in a retracted, inoperative position, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said last mentioned dog and disposed to be operated by engagement with the rungs of the stationary ladder section, a connecting rod connecting the latching member and actuating lever for moving the actuating lever into and out of engagement with the lug or detent, and a resilient latch bar carried by said last mentioned dog and disposed to engage and hold the actuating lever when said iatcthing member is in engagement with the de- 4. An extension ladder comprising two telescoping ladder sections each formed of spaced side rails connected by a plurality of longitudinally spaced rungs, said side rails being of channel shaped cross section and being disposed to open inwardl of one another, said rungs being of channel shaped cross section and disposed to open downwardly and having their ends extending into and secured to the side rails; manually operated means for extending and telescoping the ladder sections, a rod extending transversely of and journaled in the upper, movable ladder section, a pair of latching dogs keyed to said rod and having downwardly opening notches normally disposed for engagement with the rungs of the stationary ladder section for supporting the movable ladder section in an elevated, extended position, a plate fixedly mounted in one of the channels of one of the side rails of the movable ladder section and having a latch member pivotally mounted thereon, a detent on one of said latching dogs engageable by the free end of said latch member for holding the dogs in a retracted, inoperative position, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said last mentioned dog and disposed to be operated by engagement with the rungs of the other, stationary ladder section, and a connecting rod connecting the latching member and actuating lever for moving the latter into and out of engagement with the detent when the dogs are in retracted, inoperative positions.

LESLIE A. BUELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 515,582 Gates Feb. 27, 1894 922,878 Fuller Ma 25, 1909 1,113,413 Conabee Oct. 13, 1914 1,952,878 Marschutz Mar. 27, 1934: 

